About us

One of Africa’s leading research centres, the Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU) is situated at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital—known locally as ‘Bara’—in Soweto, Johannesburg. PHRU engages in research, training, policy-formulation and advocacy concerning HIV-positive people and their children.

Specifically, PHRU conducts adult, paediatric and adolescent HIV treatment research, HIV prevention research and investigations into tuberculosis and other HIV co-infections. In addition to the numerous pharmaceutical and publicly-funded clinical trials PHRU continues to carry out, the unit also conducts important behavioural and social science research, advocates for research access and provides needed care to the people of Soweto. Learn more about our evolving research programmes.